Grandmaster Wesley So eliminated Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia to arrange a title showdown with world classical champion Magnus Carlsen in the FTX Crypto Cup of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Sunday, May 30.
So won the first set, 2.5-1.5, Saturday and took the last set in just three games, 2-1, to advance to the finals in this event which stakes a prize pot worth $220,000 and 2.18 bitcoin.
So also stretched his unbeaten run in the Tour to 29 games.
Carlsen, for his part, parried an upset-minded Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, 3-1, in the decisive set.
The Norwegian chess superstar opened up with a win, then scored back-to-back draws before finishing with a flourish for a spot in the finals. He was coming off a tense 2-2 draw Saturday, May 29.
The So-Carlsen matchup marks the third time that the two will be facing each other in the finals with the Cavite-born American dominating their first titular duels: in the Skilling Open last November and the Opera Euro Rapid in February.
So hopes to extend his streak over Carlsen to another match and possibly reclaim the overall tour lead he lost after the Norwegian champion topped the New in Chess Classic early in the month.
“I’m very happy to be back in the finals. I’m very pleased and hopefully I have enough energy,” said So in an interview with the tournament website.